Good Reads....

What a joke! I am so annoyed at all of you who have time to read. Seriously, where do you find the time? Do you lock your kids in the basement or what? Maybe I am just not getting something. Maybe I am a horrible time waster. All I know is when I check my email and see that everyone of my friends has read a million books since the last time I checked my email I get a little discouraged. (yes, that was an obtrusive run on sentence!) Am I missing some amazing secret on how to better manage my life?

Fun in Colorado

My mom drove up to see baby Sophie two weeks ago and then me and the kids drove back to Colorado with her. The kids were amazing in the car. We have wonderful little travelers. Trevor flew into Denver on Thursday night and we drove back on Friday. Here are some of the high lights from the trip. Thanks for having us Mom! It was great.

Happy Campers

We went camping this weekend in the Oqirrh Mountains with Natalie and Ryan. It was really fun but cold. The kids had a great time and are looking forward to our next camp out in August.

Our Tent- it only took about an hour to set up. Not too bad for the first time out of the box.
Sword fight with hot dog roasters.
Tin foil dinners. Yumm....
Happy Campers

Baby Sophie

David and Maranda had their baby yesterday at about 6:30pm. She was 6 lb 15 oz and 19 inches long. So so cute. They named her Sophie Lynn. It was a great experience to see David ogle over his new baby. They will be great parents. I hope we are able to get closer to them now that they will have children of their own. She is so adorable...

It's A Wonderful Life

Yesterday was our anniversary. We didn't do much to celebrate just spent the day doing what we've been doing the past eight years. I can't remember life before my husband and children. I can't imagine my life with out them. After we were married I remember talking to Jacob and Mindy who were married almost three years and thinking, "Wow, three years that is such a long time!" Now here we are eight years later and this is what we have to show for it...

These photos were taken two Sundays ago.

Panguitch Trip

This past week we spent some time in Panguitch visiting Jacob's family. Me and the kids drove down (4 1/2 hours) to Mindy's parent's house. The Quilt Walk festival was taking place so there were a lot of fun things to do. The best part was reuniting the cousins. Here are some highlights. I can't believe that Carson has never riden in the back of a pickup truck! FYI the movie loops to finish the song.

Anticipation

When we take pictures of Garrett he squints in anticipation of the flash. It often takes a few tries to get a good picture.

Just to clarify...

I do love Utah. This has been a wonderful move. I'm so grateful for Trevor's wonderful new job. I'm excited to live closer to family. I love that there is a church on every corner. It's refreshing to be surrounded by so many friendly people. (Remember that American Idol episode when they made fun of Utahans for being so polite? It's true!) I'm excited that my kids will not be the only Mormon in their school. There are so many great things about Utah. I really am enjoying it here. I know I'll love it even more when we are settled.

blessing or a curse?

I am adjusting to Utah slowly but surely. One thing that has been hard to get use to is how trusting everyone seems to be. I have always been one of those overly paranoid people. Examples you say...

1. I have a plan of action if a burglar should decide to strike while I am taking my morning shower. Some people might keep a bottle of tilex in the shower to conveniently keep mold away, but I have it for protection!

2. Just this morning I warned Paige not to jump on the trampoline without a buddy. It has rained a lot the past few days and I was worried the dug out trampoline might fall into its hole. Then she would drowned in the pool of water that collected underneath. Yeah, as if my 31 lb daughter could bust a few springs bouncing up and down. Non the less, it was a concern that occupied my mind for at least an hour this morning.

3. I can't tell you how many nights I have stressed about Trevor making it home safe and sound. Seriously, I would be a horrible single parent. I work myself into a tissy about it and then when Trevor gets home I fall all over him with hugs and kisses.

What's my point? I am having a really hard time letting loose. I have NEVER let my kids play in the front yard with out me being there. Here all the kids are outside playing together and parents check on them periodically. I see neighborhood kids roaming from house to house and yard to yard. It is just summer fun and seems so harmless. I'm having a hard time letting my kids join in and play. I feel the need to interrogate all the neighbors first. Why am I like this? I often wonder if my paranoia is a blessing or a curse. I tend to suspect the worst in people. I am not trusting.

Kindergarten Graduation

Carson had Kindergarten graduation yesterday. We took lots of video and pictures but we were a little far away. Carson said his part perfectly and sang all the songs. He has done so well adjusting and making friends at his new school. I'm so proud of him. Today he brought his state testing scores home. A four is the highest mark they get on the test. Carson got all fours in every category.... except for one in PE. He got a two in skipping! I love this kid!

My Garden...sort of

Here at the Braswell's I have been tending to the garden and learning about plants. It is becoming my pride and joy. I love working outside in the vegetable garden. I have wanted to have a vegetable garden for years. I sort of adopted this garden for my own. There are potatoes, beans, peas (in pots), tomatoes, peppers, herbs, lettuce, squash, corn, strawberries, cucumbers, and an artachoke.

There are also grapes, raspberries, and blackberries. I am really excited to learn how to bottle grape juice. Last year the Braswell's got 50 bottles. It is really tasty juice.

Mother's Day Gift

This was my Mother's Day gift. I loved it. I remember my mom use to say homemade gifts are the best. I thought she was just trying to make us feel good. Now that I have received my first real homemade gift I know she telling us the truth. I was really impressed with his thoughtfulness. He used some of my favorite colors to decorate and personalized it with stickers he thought I would like. It was a great gift.

A potpourri post...

Paige has a new favorite word. She says right? after everything.
Examples...
"I get to have gum when we get home. Right?"
"Mom when I turn 4 I'll be a big girl. Right?"
"Carson it's my turn now. Right?"
"Grandpa mud is sticky. Right?"
I think she just want's us to agree with her all the time. Who can blame the girl she likes to be right!

Carson is very excited for Mother's Day. He presented me with my gift and special instructions that I could enjoy the bag early, but I have to wait until Sunday to open my present. I'm really excited to see what's in there. These types of things make me happy. I love how excited he gets about giving me surprises that he makes.

Paige + warm weather + trampoline + too many boys =

And this picture just because it's cute.

Hair Trouble

Help! I am going to get my hair cut next week and I have no idea what to do. I need a change, but in the past I have done some really DUMB things with my hair...i.e. half of the photos below. I was thinking of going chin length or a little longer with some bangs. I have also thought of keeping it long and just adding a few highlights. I have only colored my hair professionally once. I really liked it but I am scared of the upkeep. Feel free to leave your thoughts and poke fun at my photos.

This is when I got highlights...

My top ten...

In response to the swine flu pandemic, my top ten list before I die.

1. Visit Mexico without coming home sick!
2. Find a hairstyle that I actually like.
3. Get lasik.
4. Go back to school and earn a degree.
5. Invent a truly amazing kitchen tool for Billy Maze to announce on an infomercial.
6. Learn to like poetry.
7. Beat Trevor in miniature golf.
8. Overcome my fear of heights.
9. Become a master gardener. I'm shooting for the stars on this one. I really just want to grow a successful garden and some fruit trees.
10. Finally, learn to spell (without spell check)!

New Phraseology

Carson and Paige have picked up on a few new phrases. (Thank you Lance, Eric, & Devon) I just thought I would share them so everyone understand what they are talking about. It's good to be up on the hip new lingo the kids are using these days.

Nueb pronunciation{ new-b }
-noun, slang.
1. a stupid or ridiculous person; nerd; silly.
2. a form of endearment used for a sibling or parent when they do something salty.

Usage examples...
Paige talking to Carson after he took one of her markers. "Carson, don't be a nueb. Give me back my marker!"

Carson talking to me after I served his snack on a pink princess plate (what was I thinking???) "Oh Mom, you're such a nueb. I hate princesses!"

Salty
-adjective, slang
1. uninspiring, lame, nuebish
2. the opposite of something "totally sweet"

Usage examples...
Carson spilled something at dinner. Eric promptly responded. "Way to go Carson that was salty."

The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. Loved it! It was such a cute story. I liked the characters and the writing was cleaver and full of imagery. It is a young adult story and plot but it really held my attention. I was anxious to find out the ending but I also found my self savoring the story and reading slowly so I didn't get there too soon. That to me is a good book. When you can't wait to find out what happens, but you don't want to finish too quickly because you know you'll feel sad when the story is over. The other thing I enjoyed about this book was the happy ending. I hate a happy ending that comes too easily and just fall out of no where (i.e. Breaking Dawn from Twilight). As all happy endings go, it was little predictable but it didn't come easily. The plot was completely developed and resolved reasonably. I am going to keep this on my book shelf for Paige. I have also heard that there are two other books that follow some of the characters from Goose Girl. I'll have to find them.

Easter Sunday

I love how all our kids have chubby cheeks!


The tie was ditched seconds after the photo, and the shirt was never tucked in...sigh.


Paige and her sponge rollers! She loves'em. She thinks she looks like Snow White with "short curly hair".

Cheese

Trevor is such a dork when it comes to taking photos. He hates to be in pictures so we usually have just the kids, or me with the kids, or this....



After coloring eggs he said he would cooperate and let me take his picture. This is what I got...

Easter Eggs-travaganza

The kids died Easter eggs on Saturday. Paige was so surpised each time she took an egg out of the cup. It was like magic for her. Carson was very careful and precise in his egg coloring techneque. He finished about thirty minutes after everyone else and then he had me cattologe each egg with a seperate photo. These are just a few of the highlights.

The longest day of my life...

I'm sitting here typing away while on hold with my property management company. I have to schedule my check out so they can nickle and dime me for every mark on the wall and spot on the carpet. They like to whittle down your deposit. It moves me one step closer to getting out of here. And on a day like today, that is a good thing. The packers are here. Need I say more? There is nothing more annoying than annoying people! I don't like them touching my things and then talking to me about everything.

Examples: "Oh that's a cute picture. When was that taken?" "Wow, you sure have a lot of dishes." "Look at that, you must be LDS. I knew it when I first walked in."

That's right one of the packer is also LDS, AWESOME. You think? He's got me all set up with his sister who is a Realtor. Lucky me she lives in LAYTON! He is talking non stop about his ward, my ward. His time at BYU and my time at BYU. It's like my life is now an open book because he has unlimited access to rummage through my drawers and all my stuff. I'm going to loose my mind. I don't know if I will make it in Utah. I'm really not a nice person. A nice person would enjoy these little pleasantries and I just want to tell him to SHUT UP and get a move on. I hope I live through this day. See I'm not very nice, I'm not going to fit in up there.

Garrett's First Trick

A few weeks ago we were driving around in the car and the kids were watching a family video. After a 30 minute clip of Christmas 2004 I had to turn the dang thing off! I was annoying myself! I have always maintained that I never baby talk to my children. I talk to them like normal people. WRONG! Just a warning that you might be ever so slightly annoyed by my baby talk in this clip. But it's worth it.

I'm A Mess

 

Garrett is not a big fan of baby food yet. He just spits it out. We keep trying though...

Slumber Party

The cousins had their last slumber party this weekend. Usually it is just Olivia and Logan that come over but this time we had Email and Sarah too. It was a lot of fun. The girls painted nails and the boys did some mazes. Then they watched Bolt and ate way to much junk. At 9pm we attempted to put them to bed. The girls giggles and played in their bed until 10:30 then we had to separate them for our sanity. They had a great time.

Home Alone

I'm sitting around on my tush trying to be productive. I have a to do list as long as my arm, but my motivations is zip. It is hard to get ready for a move that you know nothing about. I still have no idea when they are going to come pack us up and move us to Utah. Trevor left yesterday. He starts orientation for his new job today. Yay, we now have health insurance and a pay check. He called last night to let me know he made it safe and sound. He drove up most of our food storage because I am so paranoid about it spoiling. Hey people that was my obsession over the last two years. Don't make fun of me! It was probably the only productive thing I've done here in Las Vegas. Everyone keeps asking me for an update on the move so there you go peeps! I'm now a single mother of three. This is the first time I have EVER been home alone over night. I am one of those people who worries about how they will defend them self if someone breaks in while they're in the shower. It was a long night. I'm grateful he'll be back on Friday for the weekend.

The Park

It seems like we live at the park these days. We go to the little park down the street almost everyday. We often meet Mindy there and switch kids back and forth. Our kids are going to miss their cousins so much.

 

 

 

Uncle Dave and Aunt Ramanda

These pictures are from when we went to visit David and Miranda in Utah. They took us to a cool park in SLC were we saw some birds and played on the toys. I'm excited to live closer. Maybe my kids will learn how to say MARANDA!